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Sunday, November 27, 2011

Shyam’s
first attempt at short story writing remains incomplete for want of ideas.
Readers are requested to use their creativity & complete the story.

Vaikuntha
Lata and the “Battle of the Bulge”

“The Incomplete story”

Note: This story having Tamil family background has no specific significance. It could have been any other ethnic group. ( I am not a Tamilian.) However,Tamil is the most popular regional language in India, and you can't find an Indian who doesn't know at least the three words 'AAMA' 'UPMA' and 'ILLAI'

Thambi Selvan was a very normal
middle class gentleman taking care of his wife and two children with the salary
he received as a clerk in a Government office in Chennai. Thrift was his main
attribute, and he hardly had any expenses. He travelled mostly in Buses or
local trains & carried his trademark four box tiffin carrier for lunch,
with a plantain leaf tied to it. He used to find the
coffee offered by others tastier than the one for which spent money. Hence he
never spent money on Tea and Coffee.

However his thrift did not come in
the way of his wife Janaki spending lavishly for pujas and other religious
events in the house. At least once in a month, they used to have an elaborate
religious ritual followed by a sumptuous lunch. The lunch prepared by Janaki used
to be so tasty, that people used to look forward to an invitation from the Selvans.

Selvan’s evening journey back home
from office would invariably have two stops. The Poo Kadai (flower shop). And
the Vinayaga Kovil (Ganesh Temple).He knew the flowers would make Janaki happy,
and that was the only thing she expected from Selvan. At the Vinayaga temple,
he used to narrate the day’s happening to the lord. Most of the times, he felt
that god listened to him and gave him sad-buddhi (noble thoughts) to be a
better person the next day. But sometimes he felt that god was out of the
calling area and his message may not have reached him. He used to console
himself, “one vinayaga, and so many people to care off; an occasional network
failure is understandable”. Suddenly a smile would come on his face at the
weirdness of thinking.

Selvan was a very dotting father,
very possessive, very supportive about his children. He was very lucky to have
a girl Vaikuntha Lata (Vaiki) in her early twenties and a son Daivaguna (Daigi)
five years younger than her. In spite of his not so healthy financial status,
Selvan had ensured his children had good education from reputed Institutions.
For this he had to borrow money from friends and the Bank. Vaiki had completed
her MBA from a reputed B. School with good academics and bagged a job as an
executive secretary to the Managing Director of a large Indian organization
dealing in heavy equipments related to civil engineering and infrastructure.
She was earning a decent salary, with which she could pay off the bank
instalment.

For once everything seemed very rosy
for Selvan including his financial position. But then, it was too good a
situation to last long.

One day Selvan and Janaki decided to
visit the Ganesh Temple in the nearby village to offer prayers to the lord.
Their new found affluence allowed them to hire a cab for the journey. While
returning from the temple, their vehicle met an unfortunate accident and both
were killed on the spot.

Vaiki’s boss Ranjit Kapoor was a
large hearted man, nice and considerate, and was of great help to her in coming
out of the emotional stress. He was almost a father figure to her. In spite of
her grief, Vaiki was very committed to her work and profession. She not only
completed her tasks judiciously, she also contributed with creative ideas,
which brought increased business, revenue, profits for the organisation.

Three years passed by...

Vaiki cleared all the loans and was
just comfortable financially. Daigi also completed his graduation. Ranjit who
had taken keen interest in Daigi’s education suggested he be sent to a foreign
country for his MBA in an international B-School and offered him employment
after completion of his education. Vaiki immediately accepted the suggestion
and raised loans from her known sources, Ranjit also helped with his personal
money, though he could not extend official loan to her. Thus Vaiki managed the
finances without approaching a bank. With Ranjit’s influence, Daigi was
admitted in a B-School of international repute in United States.

Vaiki’s hard work and dedication paid
dividends. She was promoted with appropriate hike in her package. She was made
the head of the Customer Relations Management Division. She had the
responsibility to entertain important clients and close deals. She did this job
meticulously. Her earnings and the responsibilities both increased with every
deal she closed. She always walked the extra mile to please the customer, but
ensured that her chastity remained intact. In spite of all these earnings too,
she was finding sustaining her brother’s expenses in United States very
difficult, but she always managed to ensure that her brother had the money when
he needed. She freely discussed this with Ranjit, but even he could do very
little.

And “The
Battle of Bulge”…..

One day Ranjit suggested something so
shocking that it would have taken the life out any ordinary women. But then,
Vaiki was no ordinary women. She too was shocked, but only for moment. She
regained her composure and said “OK but see that Daigi doesn’t come to know
about it.” This was a service to the customers that affected her chastity. They
had engaged call girls all these years, now Ranjit wanted her to extend this
service to the customers and use the extra earnings to repay her loans.

Now while the purse kept bulging with
every engagement, there was another “Battle of bulge” she had to fight. With
the new responsibilities, she had to take to pills to keep herself safe. This
resulted in bulging waistline. This was the “Battle of bulge” she had to
constantly fight to maintain herself and look presentable. The over medication
started telling on her health, which started going down. Seeing this Ranjit
immediately shifted her from that job to a job where she did not have any
connection with the customers. She just had to come to office work for few hours and return home. As the
loans were all paid up, she had peace of mind also. Her health started
improving.

Daigi completed his MBA with flying
colours and on return was absorbed by Ranjit with a good salary and perks.
Daigi was however shocked to see her sister’s health condition and came to know
the reality through friends. He was so upset that he wanted his sister to
resign her job and take rest at home improve her health, so that, he could
marry her off to an understanding and broad minded Gentleman. Vaiki would have
none of it; she wanted to work, as the work was no longer strenuous. Ranjit
again mediated between the siblings and came with a solution acceptable to
both, according to which Vaiki could stay at home and work on specific tasks
entrusted to her and get paid as per task delivered.

After a sustained struggle for
existence, that at one stage looked eternal, the siblings settled down to a
peaceful and settled life. Vaiki used to take care of the household chores and
at her convenience work on the projects assigned. Daigi worked very hard to
contribute to the organization and his professional growth. Evenings they used
to sit and chat endlessly about all the topics in the world, society, not so
glorious past, and their parents. This also included an occasional tip or
suggestion from the Vaiki to her younger brother.

Ranjit was
impressed with Daigi dedication and slowly started entrusting him with larger
responsibilities. One such responsibility put both Daigi speechless.

Ranjit came across a global tender that
could make his organization richer by a few millions. This he thought Daigi with his modern
management acumen could execute successfully. Daigi accepted the project with
glee and got busy working on the financial & other aspects of the project.
The bid was finally submitted in time. The first hurdle was crossed when their
company was shortlisted among the top five organizations in the world, one of
whom would eventually be awarded the project after technical inspection.

Date for technical inspection was fixed
and one Mr. Rogers was to visit the organization. Ranjit asked Daigi to spare
no effort or money to make Mr. Rogers happy in all aspects. For this an open
ended budget was granted to Daigi with no audits or approvals. It took just a
day for Daigi to prepare the plan, and next morning he was in Ranjit’s chambers
to discuss it & take his approval.

One glance at the paper brought a nod
in approval from Ranjit. It seemed that he was ok with both the budget and the
plan.

“It is Ok” he said “You can take more
money also if you need, but are you sure it will result in positive decision
from Mr. Rogers??” he asked with an apprehensive look. “I am worried about the
last item, will it bring desired results???” (Last item on the budget always
used to entertainment.)

“Can we get people, who would not
only entertain him, but be savvy enough to get the conversion?”

“I will get the best possible
entertainer and conversion too.” Daigi said confidently.

Ranjit shook his head, still not
convinced, “We need to get this deal, at any cost, we simply cannot afford to
fail” he said a bit pensively.

Daigi was a bit perplexed, a bit
confused. He had never seen Ranjit so desperate so inhibited. Ranjit he knew, was
a very confident man, he never bothered about results. He believed in giving
his best, he knew that in business you gain some lose some. Now this was not
about some deal or one more deal. This would take his organization to the next
level, “The upper crest” in business, reputation, turnover, and of course
profits. No way could he lose it. All the competitors were equal, some even
better, He knew, that, all things being equal, the last item on the list could
give an edge to the organization.

There was total silence for some
time. It appeared Ranjit wanted to say something, but somehow hesitated. Daigi
not knowing what to do was aimlessly drawing circles on his note pad.

Slowly Ranjit raised his head and
started slowly, “I have an idea Daigi, an idea that would get both entertainment
and conversion”

The circles stopped suddenly on Daigi’s
pad. He raised his head and was all attention & curious to listen to his
boss.

Ranjit began slowly and hesitatingly,
in an almost inaudible tone he asked.

“How about Vaiki for the last item”

Now readers, here is where my pen got
stuck and story remained incomplete. I request the readers to use their
creativity to complete the story.

I am now the audience, eagerly
waiting for the intelligent inputs from the readers.